Is your lawn mower tearing of the lawn grass blades instead of cutting it? Does your lawn look like it has been eaten by a goat, in spite of being cut by the lawn mower? Wait; do not pull your hair by the root. Help is at hand. We will teach you how to sharpen the lawn mower blades at minimum price and effort.
Your Manual Lawn Mower - The Faithful Walk Behinds
Tools: The tools that your will require for doing this job are
- You and your time of about 2 hours or less
- A bastard file of about 12" long
- A small crow bar to prevent movement of rotor of lawn mower.
- A worktable will be useful for dong the job comfortably.
Procedure: You can use the following procedure as a general guide and make changes to it to suit you. Remember the procedure is not sacrosanct. The results are important, not the procedure.
1. If possible, remove the handle of lawn mower and place lawn mower on the table.
2. Secure it if possible in the clamps. If you do not have clamps, do not bother, secure it against any block, so that the movement away from you is restricted.
3. Fix the crowbar in the blades so that it will not rotate
4. With the help of the bastard file, file the edges of blades so that they look sharp. Work at an angle of 45 degrees
5. When one blade is sharpened, remove the crowbar and turn the rotor to work on another blade. Repeat the procedure until all blades are sharpened.
6. If you have a flexible shaft grinder in your DIY workshop, you will be able to complete the work within 5 to 10 minutes per blade. Make a template of blade profile before you start your work and compare frequently. This is necessary to ensure that you do not over cut at a place.
Safety Tip For You
While sharpening the blades ensure that the stroke is not too long otherwise, you may injure yourself.
Sharpening Blades Of Power Mower
Depending upon the lawn mower the procedure may vary. We have included general statements in this procedure; you would have to change the procedure slightly. Keep the maintenance manual of lawn mower handy if you have one.
Tools required.
- Siphon hose and clean container
- Heavy work gloves and goggles
- Double-cut (medium-rough) flat file
- Lumber scrap
- Socket wrench set
- Rubber mallet*
- Bench vise or C clamps
- Rotary blade sharpener accessory
- Electric drill*
- Screwdriver, or 1/4-in. rod or bolt*
- Blade balancer
- Replacement blade*
* Only if required
The list may look formidable, but tools are generally available with every DIY enthusiast.
Procedure:
The procedure is given for the simple single blade lawn mower, but the same will apply to all types of blades, whether single or double
- Wear hand gloves and clean the engine and the gasoline tank from outside
- Remove spark plug from the engine
- Remove all the fuel from the tank of the gasoline engine. Use the siphon hose so you do not spill gasoline on floor.
- Completely empty out the oil from gearbox if you have one
- Invert the engine and have access to the blade.
- Clamp the engine so it does not move and clean the blade area thoroughly
- With help of a box spanner, remove the nut holding the blade. Usually the nut will be unlocked in the reverse to direction of rotation of engine. You may engage the screwdriver in the cooling fan of engine to stop rotation of engine.
- If you find that you are using too much force to unlock the nut, put one or two drops of rust removing chemical, and try after 30 minutes
- After you remove the blade, clamp it in the bench vise and sharpen it with a file or a grinder. Sharpen only the outer 2 to 3 inches. The area to be sharpened will be known if you see the blade.
- Sharpen only to the required extent. Too much sharpening is not necessary. This is not the knife. It works at the speed of the engine
- After sharpening, check with your thumb. Be careful not to cut thumb. If you have done sharpening before, or seen some one doing it, you will know what we mean by this.
- Balance the blade with help of a small balancing tool on VEE blocks, or even on two foot rulers placed side by side
- Refit the blades, refill engine oil and gasoline and test the sharpness of blades on uncut portion of your lawn
Safety tips:
- Always use safety goggles and hand gloves when working with power tools.
- Be sure to remove the spark plug before starting. Serious accidents can happen if you do not do this.
Most homeowner's need to have a quality lawn mower that works well so that they can keep their yard looking nice. There are also larger types of lawn mowers used for clearing fields and for farming. They come in the forms of hover mowers, riding mowers, rotary mowers, and robotic mowers. Regular maintenance is essential to keeping it working as it should. You may also have to do some repairs.
When it comes to repairing your lawn mower you have the option of doing it yourself or having it repaired by a professional in that field. You will be able to save money if you are able to repair it on your own but it depends on what the problem is. The majority of lawn mower issues are easy to take care of and you can troubleshoot them without investing too much time.
The most common problem with a lawn mower is that it won't start. This can be the result of several things but start by seeing if the gas supply is working properly. Next check the throttle, the fuse, and the spark plug. If all these items seem to be in good working order check the power source. A good way to see if it is working is to check the air filter. Is it possible that it is clogged by grass or other debris. The gas in the fuel container may not be any good. For more info see http://www.lawnmower-report.com/Lawn_Mower_Battery on Lawn Mower Battery.
If you think the fuel is bad then drain it as well as the carburetor and add clean gas. It should now be working and ready to go. If not then you should take it to an expert who can look it over. Make sure you conduct regular maintenance on the lawn mower so it will stay in top running condition for you. Refer to your owner's manual to ensure you are following the procedures correctly.
Both Joey Singer & David Faulkner are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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